Gibson Custom Shop 1957 L-5 CES Reissue Electric Guitar w/Hardshell Case, Antique Natural

The iconic hollowbody archtop returns
Few guitars carry the legacy of the Gibson L-5™. First introduced in the early 1920s during the Lloyd Loar era, it has been embraced by leading country artists, jazz greats, rockabilly pioneers, and blues legends alike. Gibson Custom now reintroduces this historic model to the core lineup with the 1957 L-5 CES Reissue. Created using detailed 3D scans of original late-50s examples, it authentically recreates the look, feel, and voice of the originals.

The 1957 L-5 CES Reissue features a carved AAA spruce top, matched with a carved, bookmatched AAA curly maple back and solid AAA curly maple sides. Its fully carved construction produces greater depth and resonance than laminated archtops, whether played acoustically or amplified, and responds dynamically to every touch. The Venetian cutaway also provides easier access to the upper frets. A seven-ply bound top and three-ply bound back complete its refined aesthetic.

Its three-piece, 25.5" scale neck joins the body with a dovetail joint and is crafted from two sections of curly maple with a walnut center strip. Shaped to an Authentic 1957 L-5 profile derived from vintage scans, it delivers a substantial, period-correct feel. The four-ply bound ebony fretboard features 20 medium jumbo frets, elegant purfling, a bird's beak extension, and mother-of-pearl block inlays.

The headstock is trimmed with five-ply binding and adorned with a mother-of-pearl flowerpot inlay and Gibson logo. A Corian™ nut and gold Kluson® Sealfast® tuners provide reliable tuning stability, while a rear stinger adds a vintage touch. Hardware includes a gold Historic Reissue ABR-1 bridge on a rosewood base for precise adjustment, along with a vintage-style gold L-5 tailpiece engraved "L-5." A five-ply bound tortoiseshell pickguard completes the classic look.

Electronically, the 1957 L-5 CES Reissue is equipped with a pair of unpotted Custombucker pickups featuring Alnico 3 magnets. Individual volume and tone controls are fitted with True Historic gold Top Hat knobs with dial pointers. It ships strung with light-gauge (.012 - .052) flatwound strings and includes a Custom Shop hardshell case.

The L-5 traces its origins to Orville Gibson's carved archtop designs, later refined by Lloyd Loar with f-holes and other innovations that defined the modern archtop. An electric version debuted in 1951, and by late 1957, the introduction of Patent Applied For humbuckers™ marked what many consider the model's pinnacle form.

The 1957 L-5 CES Reissue stands apart as a true statement instrument, built for players who demand the highest level of performance. With its elegant styling, rich and articulate tone, vintage-accurate specifications, and exceptional craftsmanship, it represents the summit of Gibson archtop design-and a guitar that will inspire for years to come.

Specifications

Body
Binding: Multi-ply top and back
Body Material: Figured Maple
Top Material: Carved Spruce
Body Finish: VOS nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Shape: L-5
Weight Relief: None
Body Style: Hollow body

Neck
Profile: Chunky 1950s Chunky D
Frets: Reissue Medium Jumbo
Joint: L-5
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Nut Material: Corian
Inlays: Big Block
Fingerboard Radius: 12" (304.8 mm)
Binding: 4-ply
Scale Length: 25.5" (647.7 mm)
Neck Material: 3-piece Maple and Walnut

Hardware
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Finish: Gold
Plastics: Black
Tuning Machines: Kluson Sealfast
Control Knobs: Gold Top Hats
Pickup Cover: Gold
Tailpiece: Trapeze

Electronics
Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3
Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone
Pickup Selector: 3-way toggle

Misc.
Case: Reissue hardshell case included